Page 11 - The Flame

LegMa Soc intensifies human rights campaign

By JUSTINE MARIE P. MENDOZA nity and the long battle of discrimination in further noting that mobility and language
the country. problems deter their aims and goals for the
STUDENTS from the Faculty of Arts and Let- De Mesa added that the abduction of six PWD.
ters (Artlets) intensified their campaign on contract workers who were accused to be Dwelling on to the issues faced by Over-
human rights awareness in response to the members of the New People’s Army (NPA) seas Filipino Workers (OFW), Erwin Puha-
increasing cases of impunity and discrimi- is one example of how injustice plagues the wan noted that OFWs oftentimes face in-
nation in the country through a series of country. justice in the hands of their employers.
lectures held last December 1 and 5 at the Jonal Javier, another human rights advo- Issues surrounding local farmers were
UST Civil Law Auditorium. cate, discussed the threats faced by advo- tackled by Val Vival, member and represen-
The Legal Management Society (LegMa cates like him. He noted that some become tative of Aniban ng Manggagawa sa Agri-
Soc), in coordination with the Philippine Al- victims of extrajudicial killings while others kultura (AMA). He said that manipulation
liance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) are accused to be members of the Moro Is- issues faced by farmers trigger injustice and
and Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, lamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Abu lack of support from the government.
organized the lectures wherein representa- Sayaff Group. Vival recognized the leaders from differ-
tives from different sectors of the society Anafe Maravillas, core group member ent sectors of the society—from traders to
shared their experiences about discrimina- of the Philippine commission on United Na- little farmers—who promote equality and
tion and impunity. tions Convention on Rights of Persons with fair treatment on the rights of every person.
“International standards have to be con- Disabilities (UNCRPD), called on to others On the other hand, Regional Coordina-
sidered for the Philippines to fully achieve to give Persons with Disability (PWD) prop- tor of Asia Against Child Trafficking (Asia
the goals and aims of Human Rights advo- er treatment and respect as members of ACTs) Amihan Abueva gave an overview on
cates,” PAHRA Chairman Max de Mesa said. the society. the current population of children in Asia
He encouraged everyone to consider “The right of PWD involves equality as well as their need for protection against
“our neighbors as ourselves” to stop impu- and non-discrimination,” Maravillas said, child pornography and trafficking. F

Eco studes push for climate English Language

change awareness Studies to establish

By FRANCIA D.R. AFULUGENCIA own society
ECONOMICS students from the Faculty of Arts and Letters (Artlets) embarked upon an environ-
mental discussion that tackled the difficulties brought by climate change and its threatening By ISABELLA E. CUARTERO
effects to the economic trend worldwide in the 11th Young Economists Convention (YEC) held
at the Medicine Auditorium last November 12. THE PIONEERING batch of English Language
This year’s convention brought together Economics students all over the National Capital Studies (ELS) students are in the process of
Region. With the title “Cross-Sectoral Collaboration for Greener and Sustainable Consump- establishing their own society in time for the
tion and Production Processes,” the convention was conducted to “introduce environmentally- next academic year.
sound concepts that are consistent with economic growth.” In a series of meetings last November,
Artlets Economics professor Ernesto Gonzales discussed a concept in economics that ELS students expressed their intention to
dwells outside the realm of Neo-Classical Doctrine called Critical Natural Capital. This doctrine establish their own academic society for
identifies the non-renewable components of the natural resources and tackles their depletion. them to be at par with other Arts and Let-
“Economists cannot simply say that they can actually profit on mining projects based on ters (Artlets) programs who have their own
their studies,” Gonzales said. “When you study it under the concept of the Neo-Classical Doc- academic groups.
trine, it goes full circle as it says it is profitable in terms of market system, practicability, and Initially, the ELS was classified under the
cost.” Journalism Society, but UST Department of
“But how about the degradation of social and natural capital? it is not included but it is the English Chairperson Marilu Madrunio en-
problem,” he said. couraged the class to come up with their
He added that at the present rate on how natural resources are depleted, humans now own group.
need three earths to be able “to supply the material requirements of the expanding economy The establishment of the ELS society
of the world.” aims to cater to the needs of ELS students
Gonzales further said that the climate change phenomenon is no longer a debatable issue and to enrich their full potential in using the
but a reality. He cited the recent weather disturbances that devastated Japan, Thailand, and English language. Among their proposed
the Philippines, and how the mainstream economy got affected. projects is the offering of tutorial programs
He added that the current “climate change typhoon” releases a month-worth of rain in just concerning literature appreciation and prop-
a span of six hours. er English usage.
“We need a paradigm shift in the way we think and the way we conceive reality,” Gonzales “Basically, the society will be established
said. “The way we implement government programs must be based from this new under- to foster growth among ELS students as they
standing of the present situation and how we respond to it.” bring out the best in each other through au-
The YEC was made possible through the efforts of the UST Artlets Economics Society and thentic leadership, broader understanding,
De La Salle University Economics Organization (DLSU-EconOrg) in cooperation with the DLSU- and unity as a class,” Madrunio said.
Angelo King Institute for Economics and Business Studies. The society also aims to give assistance
Other resource speakers include Presidential Adviser for the Environment and former De- to Artlets students in unleashing their po-
partment of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Eliza Gozun, and DLSU pro- tentials and creativity in what they consider
fessors Joel Tanchuco and Arlene Inocencio. F as a second language. F
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